The aim of this module is to teach basic field skills in laboratory work and ship work including:

a) safety at sea,

b) ship''s operation,

c) physical oceanographic and meteorological measurement,

d) chemical sampling and

e) analysis of water and sediment samples and

f) interpretation of physical, chemical and biological oceanographic data from a coastal sea.

2. Intellectual Abilities:

At the end of the module the student should be able to apply skills in

a) devising marine sampling strategies

b) evaluating the quality and significance of marine data

c) evaluating publicly available meteorological data

d) quality control field data,

e) writing a focused, qu estion-driven scientific report/paper

3. Subject Based Practical Skills:

At the end of the module students should be able to apply skills in work at sea and ashore including:

a) planning a boar-based survey targeted at environmental quesions,

b) physical oceanographic and meteorological measurement,

c) chemical sampling and

d) analysis of water and sediment samples.

A ship-based course, usually in June immediately after the end of Year 2, to take place at the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory on the R.V. Calanus and the R.V. Seol Mara, and subsequently at the University of Liverpool. The work includes the following topics:

a) navigation,

b) meteorological observations,

c) measurements of currents,

d) measurements of temperature and salinity,

e) sampling and analysis for dissolved oxygen, nutrient and chlorophyll concentration,

f) sa mpling of sediments and metals,

g) sampling of zooplankton and benthic organisms. 

All sea-going activities are weather dependent and will not be finally determined until sea conditions have been adequately assessed.

Lecture -

This will be a meeting held before the class to provide a briefing on arrangements and safety.

Laboratory Work - Analysis of data and samples, preparation and discussion of results

Field Work - Four day trips using research vessels plus shore-based sampling.

Seminar - The students will present to each other the results of their analyses and discuss their interpretation.